Going Home to Australia

Don’t worry, I’m only talking about going home to Australia for a holiday, not forever! Maybe you’re planning a trip to visit friends and family or just to get a taste of Aussi-tude (an actual thing) before embarking on another couple of years in the US.

Either way you probably don’t have a lot of time off work, unless you’re between jobs so it’s going to be a quick trip. You’re going to need a solid plan of attack. There’s lots to do and not much time to cram it into!

MAKE A LIST

I’m not talking about any old packing list. That kind of stuff is old hat for you seasoned travellers. You know what you’re taking. This list is much more important and should be started at least a month before your departure date.

That’s right, I’m talking about snacks and food you want to gorge on while you’re at home AND stock up on to bring back with you. Here’s one I worked on earlier:

Twelve Spices in Canley Heights because I can’t find any Thai food that stands up to the restaurants back home

A Kebab from anywhere that isn’t too divey

Harry’s Cafe de Wheels anywhere, it looks like they’ve sprung up everywhere. For pies with mashed potato and peas. Yum.

Real bacon

Bubble-O Bill

Gaytime

BREAD

Fly-home snacks:

Redskins

Lolly bananas

Musk sticks

Cherry Ripe

Crunchie

Cadbury’s chocolate

Cadbury’s Snack chocolate

Butternut Snaps

Mint Slice

Minties

Milo

Twisties

Kit Kats

Sultanas

Desiccated coconut

Now you know why it’s important to start this list early. It’s difficult to come up with everything in one sitting. You need time to get all of those irrational cravings in.

ORDER EVERYTHING

Some items you just can’t get over in the US. I know that fellow Aussie blogger Gwen over at It Started In LA was lamenting the absence of Napoleon Perdis’ Boudoir Mist Spray Foundation recently. And I MAY have a favourite brand of Aussie undies that I only get shipped over here when they’re on sale because the postage is just diabolical.

Then there are my favourite small boutiques that just don’t offer shipping to the US. Get in early, order stuff and get them sent to a very good friend in Oz, awaiting your visit. I’ve been a little overzealous with this one.

LEAVE SPACE

There’s bound to be stuff back home that you’re missing. A favourite book, some keepsake that you forgot and were too scared to lose in the post or even all of the stuff that I’ve listed above.

All of that is going to take up room in your suitcase so keep that in mind while you’re packing to go home. Make sure there’s plenty of space in that bag for treats and little pressies that you pick up along the way.

PRESENTS

I found an awesome birthday present for Second Brother (who won’t celebrate the day of his birth until May sometime) but it’s way too heavy and I’m too cheap to ship it so I’m just taking it with me wrapped and leaving it with my Sister-In-Law who blogs about beautiful things here. This may be the first she’s heard of this plan…

Take it all with you and either leave some postage money with a friend to send it off when the time is right or leave it with the giftee with stict instructions not to open until the special day.

MAKE APPOINTMENTS

Everyone and their dog is going to want to see you so you’ll have to prioritise who and what you really have time for. Make your friends, family and ex-colleagues aware that you’ve got a lot of people to see and things to do and that you want to fit in as many catch ups as possible. Try to amalgamate a bunch of people into dinners or coffee runs.

Try to have dinners and drinks planned out before you get there so that you don’t run out of time to see everyone and let your friends know that you’ve only got an hour or two to spend with them before you’ve got to get to the next outing.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST

Enjoy your time back home. You probably miss it or at least parts of it so make sure you do things that you want to do. By the way, I highly recommend the trip by stealth approach. Just don’t tell anyone you’re coming, rock up and stay as low profile as possible.

25 thoughts on “Going Home to Australia”

I can totally relate – I have a similar plan when I go back to the UK. I always go home with a suitcase full of gifts (mainly caramello koalas!) and always come home with a suitcase full of clothes because UK clothes shopping is the best. The appointment part is such a juggle – time is precious as are your favourite peeps. I've loved following your adventures on the socials, hope you've had an ace trip!

On my trip home my suitcase was about 17kg and on the way back it weighed in at 21kg. So even with offloading presents I still managed to come home with more than I left with. I don't even feel like I brought that much back with me either. A couple of favourite bad tee's, a dress for a wedding coming up…

Hahaha, it's totally a "tour of duty". I didn't see half of my friends because I had to pack all of the family in and do some sightseeing so Mr M wasn't supremely bored. It was his first trip to Australia.

It was fun catching up with how you spent your time back home with Mr M. It seemed to go well. Sorry about the one thing you couldn't organise..the freaking weather extremes!! Crikey, Mr M now knows what a heatwave in Aus is all about. Off to check out your sil's blog! Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 6/52. Next week: LOVE. Denyse

The joys of instagram! Everyone was kept up to date and I hardly had to write a word. Are you still sweltering through over there? That humidity was absolutely abominable. I left my ventolin in SF and had to get a new puffer in Sydney – I couldn't cope with it. Mr M has probably been scared off Australia for at least a few years! And I'm glad that even though I was a little late, I didn't miss out on Life This Week!

I've lived overseas a few times and know I fantasised a lot about what I'd eat and do when 'home'. Mind you, I kinda do the same when I visit the city or similar now… Planning ahead is a good thing as there's nothing worse – if you've got a limited amount of time – like missing out on something you've been looking forward to! #teamlovinlife

Yep, I know that feeling. I'm back in SF now and I didn't get to go to my favourite Greek or Lebanese restaurants while I was there. Too much family to visit! Now I'm kicking myself, but at the end of the day, it's just food…. right?

I'm the same, I always need an extra suitcase when I go back to the UK for all the things I'll be bringing back as gifts (and gifts for me – like Marks and Sparks clothes and Boots beauty things, and Bisto powder and marmite!) But as you travel the world it becomes harder doesn't it? Because you begin to find things in each country that you just can't live without! We've lived in 11 countries – I have a lot of suitcases!!

You sound very organised! I imagine it would be hard to see everyone when you come back for a trip. Probably best to get many people together in one hit! Glad you had a good time. Sorry about the heat though!! #TeamLovinLife

Oh gosh, I still wear a cardigan that I bought at Marks & Spencer. And if I could still fit into their jeans I'd be wearing those too.Wow, I can't believe you've lived in 11 countries… that's a lot of food to miss!

Not only that but also showing off Mr M to all my relatives, made it difficult. They all wanted time with him. The heat was kind of nice to start with since I've been freezing this winter, but the humidity was diabolical. Hopefully you're not suffering too much with the heatwave right now.